Arizona Teen Apologizes For Twisting Menorah Into Swastika
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
(JTA) — An Arizona teenager arrested for twisting a menorah in the front yard of a family’s home into a swastika posted an apology on Facebook.
Clive Jamar Wilson, 19, one of four teens arrested on March 17 for the Dec. 30 incident, told the Ellis family of Chandler that he was sorry, the East Valley Tribune newspaper reported. The Facebook page appears to have since been removed.
“What we did was reckless, stupid, idiotic, and insensitive,” he wrote, according to the local paper. “From the bottom of my heart I apologize to your family.”
Wilson then explained that his father attended Brandeis University, and has since taught him about Judaism and its values.
Naomi Ellis on Sunday accepted the apology in a statement to the newspaper.
“It is our hope that he will continue to learn the importance of tolerance and respect for diversity,” she said.
The large, decorative Hanukkah candelabra was damaged on Dec. 30, 2016.
Ellis and her husband, Seth, said they built the 7-foot menorah in front of their house after their three sons, ages 5, 6 and 9, asked for lights in their yard like their neighbors’ Christmas decorations.
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